Twitching by numbers - Book only available on Amazon (2 Viewers)

[Garry Bagnell]

I've just spent the last year writing a book about the last 24 years of twitching birds in Britain and Ireland. This might interest some individuals that visit the rare bird thread. The book details what happens during my twitch, credits finder and categorises each rarity (1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, 5-year, 10-year, 20-year and lifetime). I've also drawn one rarity for each of the 24 years.

Amazon show a sample of Chapter 1 on their website.

Twitching by numbers: Twenty-four years of chasing rare birds around Britain and Ireland

 

[Steve Babbs]

There is considerable debate about this book on twitter.

For example

https://twitter.com/x/status/1608489061114863621

 

[Jos Stratford]

There is considerable debate about this book on twitter.

For example

https://twitter.com/x/status/1608489061114863621

That just about finishes the debate to my way of thinking ...what an unpleasant read

 

[Steve Lister]

Having looked at the Twitter thread I won't be buying it, sorry Garry but you have made a big mistake here. Should have stuck to the birds.

 

[Steve Babbs]

That just about finishes the debate to my way of thinking ...what an unpleasant read

Yes I use the term 'debate' very loosely.

 

[Mike Crawley]

Crikey, Gary, what were you thinking ?

 

[Mark Batten]

There is considerable debate about this book on twitter.

For example

https://twitter.com/x/status/1608489061114863621

Two things to avoid. This months edition of birdwatch magazine and Gary's book

 

[West End Birder]

Garry was offered a lot of advice. While you all might take the piss (fair enough) I have got quite a bit of experience of writing and publishing books, one of which was about birdwatching, as I am sure you know. I offered him some advice and in fact had a long conversation with him about the pitfalls of getting a publisher and self publishing (I have done both).

I offered to proof read it for him and suggested that he get people who don't know him to read it, mainly for typos and content. I didn't see a copy to read, no idea if any other "unknowns" did, but I do know that he paid a considerable sum to someone who "edited it". He Tweeted many times asking for advice and just before publication provided an example of the introduction but it had none of the above in it.

I thought the posts on Twitter today were fake but sadly they are not.

It is a great shame, it could have been a good read.

I wonder what the pre-edit version was like?!

 

[Johann Sebastian Bach]

I see that Garry's had the good sense to remove the book from sale on Amazon and to apologise to those he's offended.
That takes guts, especially when, as Rob points out, a considerable sum is involved.

Peter

 

[Steve Babbs]

Yes it seems that he has listened.

 

[West End Birder]

Looking on the bright side, I'm £18.99 up!

 

[Birdister]

You are all wrong, the reference to ‘massive boobies’ should read ‘massive Boobies’ and what is being described is a visit of a pair of rare Antipodean birds

 

[Alcina]

Cancel culture trumps free speech again. Ignore them, Garry and let people decide for themselves if they wish to buy your book, or if they want to have Victorian prudery.

 

[LowellMills]

Not cancel culture just the consequence of writing 70s pulp in 2022 and charging the thick end of 20 quid for it.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Not cancel culture just the consequence of writing 70s pulp in 2022 and charging the thick end of 20 quid for it.

and the kind of sexism which discourages women in what is already a very male-dominated hobby.

 

[Johann Sebastian Bach]

Is that Andy Adcock I see coming over the horizon?

 

[Steve Babbs]

Is that Andy Adcock I see coming over the horizon?

Exactly what I thought.

 

[Owene]

Cancel culture trumps free speech again. Ignore them, Garry and let people decide for themselves if they wish to buy your book, or if they want to have Victorian prudery.

How is people going ‘bits of this book are shit’ and the author going ‘fair enough Im withdrawing it’ cancel culture. Does everyone have to like every book on the market?

 

[Steve Lister]

I do know that he paid a considerable sum to someone who "edited it".

If this is correct then Garry should try to get his money back. The excerpts that I have seen contain obvious errors that should have been picked up and corrected. Let alone all the offensive terms and comments that should have been purged of course.
I am pleased that Garry has temporarily withdrawn the book and has committed to re-writing at least the first four chapters. The right thing to do.

 

[BogBean]

Except the book is still for sale, now at £23.!
I'm not sure if the author has any say now? Its being sold by Chiron Media and the Book Depository. What are they going to do, burn the unsold copies?! Go after the author for breaching a contract?
I'm guessing this is an unusual mess lol